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susanatherly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: War
charliebites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, and Colonisation
jasisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Xenophobia
Reading this in high school vs reading this now and understanding the writing on a more mature level. Becausegardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Gun violence and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape and Slavery
lilliana_blackstar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“You’se something tuh make uh man forgit to git old and forgit tuh die.”
Then, in between the conversations, the poetry. Oh, the prose! The poetic narration to fill in the blanks of the story with such depth of color and emotion.
“So she sat on the porch and watched the moon rise. Soon its amber fluid was drenching the earth, and quenching the thirst of the day.”
“There is a basin in the mind where words float around on thought and thought on sound and sight. Then there is a depth of thought untouched by words, and deeper still a gulf of formless feelings untouched by thought.”
I had a good deep cleansing cry at the end of this book.
“Of course he wasn’t dead. He could never be dead until she herself had finished feeling and thinking. The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall. Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.”
Note - the Harper audiobook is narrated by Ruby Dee, and it is a masterpiece of voice acting.
I picked this book in January because I wanted to read books by Capricorn authors during Capricorn season. Zora Neale Hurston was born January 7, 1891
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
thebookgiraffe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Slavery, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia
readersbutterfly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Grief, and Murder
themichellegray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A poetic book that celebrates language and the power of finding your voice while simultaneously offering a look at feminism in the 1930's. I originally read this in my high school english class and still find the written preservation of Black American's dialect at the turn of the twentieth century to be the most memorable part of the story.
While this book follows Janie throughout stages of womanhood and details her romantic relationships, I wouldn't classify this as a romance. Instead it is a slower paced journey of self-discovery while living in a highly misogynistic and racist world. While Tea Cake's character was flawed, he brought so much joy into an otherwise challenging novel and I couldn't help but admire him.
This is definitely a story that is meant to be deeply analyzed and discussed (which would make for a great book club pick). While I was able to grasp the overall symbolism and metaphors, the writing style often became dull which removed me from the narrative leaving me a little lost.
The content of this book can be difficult to consume but offers such a hopeful message that is sure to make you reflect on your own life, appreciate the progress that has been made since its publication, and help to understand how our language has evolved and intertwined over time.
Original Read (2007) - 5 stars
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
mattyvreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Zora Neale Hurston’s words are pure poetry. The story is a beautiful and complex character study, above all else. I would not change a thing. Who would?
Scholars agree that it is one of the finest books ever written, but since I am not a scholar, I’ll simply say that it is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Slavery
Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, and Terminal illness